For the first time ever, Alzheimer's disease is a focus at the World Economic Forum. Today, more than 35 million people worldwide have dementia and those numbers will double every 20 years to 65.7 million in 2030 and 115.4 million in 2050, according to the World Alzheimer's Report from Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI), a London-based, nonprofit, international federation of 71 national Alzheimer organizations.

"The rapid increase in Alzheimer's disease creates a significant economic, social and personal burden, yet we are just begining to mobilize around this condition," said Dr. Robert N. Butler, moderator of the Davos panel and CEO and President, International Longevity Center. "Today's meeting of government, corporate and civil society representatives is an important step in driving urgency to act."